Page 92 of Twilight of Embers
I huffed out a breath as I changed into cozy sweats. I’d never felt anything this soft before and didn’t want to even think about how much it had all cost. I towel-dried my hair the best I could but knew I’d be dealing with a rat’s nest tomorrow.
Hanging the towels back in their place, I squared my shoulders and headed for the door. As I stepped out, I expected to find Knox but came up short when I saw Cillian sitting on his bed, his head in his hands.
Slowly, he looked up, his gaze sweeping over me. “Are you okay?”
“No,” I answered honestly.
Pain streaked across his expression.
I crossed then, unable to see that agony and not do something about it.
The moment I was within reach, Cillian’s arms encircled me, pulling me to him so that his face was pressed to my belly. He burrowed into me. “Scared a century off my life today.”
A lump formed in my throat. “A century?”
Cillian rubbed his face back and forth across my belly. “Dragons live a long time.”
“Good to know,” I muttered.
Cillian straightened, tipping his head back, and his hands lifted to my face. “You’re everything to me, Hayden. Nothing can happen to you.”
I brushed my palm over his buzzed head, the hair tickling my skin. “I’m right here.”
Our gazes locked, and my head lowered. My lips hovered just above his.
Cillian’s eyes blazed then, sparks of bright green dancing in them. “Careful, Little Flame. You’re not ready for me.”
46
HAYDEN
My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched Cillian’s eyes spark and swirl. The challenge was clear in his voice and in his words.
“Remind me I’m alive, Cillian.”
All I wanted was to be in the here and now, to forget the earth-shattering information I’d learned just hours ago. To do nothing but feel.
Cillian’s hand trailed down my neck. “My dragon will want to mark you.”
I stilled. “Does that mean we’re…mated?”
Cillian shook his head as his thumb stroked my pulse point. “The mate bite will have my dragon venom in it. It will leave a permanent sign on your body, just like you’ll leave one on me.”
Blood roared in my ears as some voice deep inside pushed me to bite Cillian, to tie myself to him for all eternity.
“My dragon knows you’re not ready for that. But he still wants the world to know you’re his.”
I arched a brow at Cillian. “A bit barbaric, no?”
His lips twitched. “You can bite me right back.”
My core tightened at his words. I wanted that. But why? I’d never felt that sort of urge before.
Shadows swirled in Cillian’s eyes. “I’m not like my brothers. I need certain things…”
My brows pulled together as his thumb kept stroking.
“Complete control. Complete submission.”
